Housing case for video setcomprising a video player or game console type electronic console and associated independent display

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a case ( 1 ) consisting of two storage parts ( 4, 5 ) mutually secured via a hinge system and provided with means ( 7 ) for being removably locked in closed position, that is when they are in contact with each other through their peripheral edge. One of the storage parts ( 5 ) is adapted to receive detachably a video screen ( 3 ) with its front face visible when the case is in opened position, the other storage part ( 4 ) is adapted to receive the electronic console ( 2 ) associated with said screen ( 3 ) likewise detachably (said console ( 2 ) being for example in the form of a DVD video player or a game console). The case further comprises: at least one powering plug-in connection terminating in two removable plug connectors on the screen ( 3 ) and electronic console ( 2 ), and an internal wiring system provided with detachable plugs for audio-video connection between said electronic console ( 2 ) and said associated video screen ( 3 ).

The present invention relates to a case-like or bag-like containerintended to accommodate a video assembly consisting of an electronicconsole, such as a DVD, SVCD, VCD player, a games console or the likeetc., and ;of the associated independent screen (liquid crystal screen,cathode ray screen, plasma screen, etc.); it also relates to thecomplete video installation consisting of this case or bag, of theelectronic console and of the associated screen.

The structures of cases or bags known hitherto are not truly suitablefor accommodating a video assembly of DVD type for example, or the likeetc., comprising a first box in the form of an electronic consoleconstituting the player, and a second box constituting the associatedscreen; and these structures are even less suitable for theimplementation of this integrated video assembly, that is to say for theuse of the console and video display on the screen accommodated.

The present invention proposes an original accommodating structure inthe form of a case or bag especially suited for accommodating anelectronic console and its screen, with a view not only to the storageand carriage of this assembly, but also allowing the use of this consolewith its screen, in an effective and practical manner.

In accordance with the present invention, this case for accommodating anelectronic console and video screen is characterized in that it consistsof two storage parts secured together by way of a hinge system andfurnished with means which allow their removable locking in the closedposition, that is to say when they are in contact with one another viatheir peripheral edge, one of said storage parts is suitable foraccommodating the video screen in a removable manner, with its frontface visible when the case is in the open position and the other of saidstorage parts is suitable for accommodating the associated electronicconsole, likewise in a removable manner. This case furthermore comprisesat least one supply connection socket, fashioned on one of said storageparts, from which there runs internal supply wiring terminating at tworemovable jacks for connection to the screen and to the electronicconsole, and an internal wiring system furnished with removable jacksfor the audio/video link between said electronic console and saidscreen.

According to a particular embodiment, the storage part for theelectronic console comprises an accommodating housing furnished with aremovable or partially removable top face, in particular so as to makethe use of said console possible once it has been incorporated into itshousing.

This top face is preferably made of a flexible material and comprises atleast one transparent part so as to render the functional members of theelectronic console accessible and actuatable.

According to anther feature, the case comprises a particular compartmentfor the supply wiring and console/screen link systems. This compartmentis fashioned in the part for storing the electronic console, on thehinge system side, behind the housing of said console and is furnishedwith internal openings or orifices which allow the passage of saidwiring systems.

According to another characteristic, the storage part for the screencomprises an inset receptacle for said screen, furnished with removablelocking members. This receptacle is preferably fixed to a block ofprotective material (for example a foam), and this block of material isitself fixed to the casing of the corresponding storage part.

According to yet another feature, the case in accordance with thepresent invention comprises members for limiting the angle of opening ofthe two storage parts.

According to a particular embodiment, the case comprises a complementarysupply connection socket, as well as audio/video connection sockets,which are linked to the internal wiring systems. This feature allows thesupply to the screen removed from the case, or to a second independentscreen.

The invention also relates to the video installation consisting of acase as defined above, in one of the storage parts of which ispositioned the screen and in the other storage part of which is insertedthe electronic console, said case also incorporating at least one supplycable for the linking of the supply connection socket in particular tothe mains or to the cigar lighter socket of a motor vehicle, or the likeetc., as well as possibly various accessories such as a remote controlor an audio headset for example.

According to a particularly beneficial embodiment, within the case ofthis video installation, the receptacle for removable insetting of thescreen is furnished with locking members cooperating with complementarylocking members fashioned on said screen.

In a particular embodiment, the case comprises two supply connectionsockets and connection sockets for the audio/video link, fashioned onits outer casing, and it incorporates a second independent screen, withan appropriate wiring system suitable for the supply and the audio/videolink of this second screen.

However, the invention will be further illustrated, without being in anyway limited, by the following description of two particular embodiments,given merely by way of example and represented in the appended drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a case or bag in accordance with thepresent invention, illustrated here in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is a view from below of the case illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the case of FIGS. 1 and 2, illustratedin the open position and equipped with a DVD player, as well as with theassociated screen (that are represented removed from the case);

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view, in section along 4-4 of FIG. 3 on thepart for storing the DVD screen, the various parts being representedexploded;

FIG. 5 is a view of a detail of the principle of fixing the receptaclefor insetting the screen to the protective foam block, in accordancewith the representation of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view, again in section, which illustratesanother way of fixing the screen receptacle to the foam block, thevarious parts again being represented exploded;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the player/screen link and supplywiring systems incorporated into the case;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a screen inset receptacle fixed to aheadrest cover, forming a complementary accessory able to be insertedinto the case in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another possible embodiment of a case inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the player/screen link and supplywiring systems of the case illustrated in FIG. 9.

The case or bag 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7 allows the storage of anelectronic console 2 and of a screen 3, which here take the form of aDVD player and of a screen; it also incorporates internal prewiringintended for the electrical link between the player 2 and the screen 3,with a view to the viewing of DVD video discs.

This case or bag 1 comprises two storage parts 4 and 5 ofparallelepipedal general shape, linked by a hinge system 6 at the levelof the bottom zone, and furnished with a glide closure system 7 on theother three sides of their peripheral edge, that is to say on thelateral sides and on the front part.

The glide closure 7 allows removable locking of the two storage parts 4and 5 in the closed position (FIGS. 1 and 2), that is to say when saidstorage parts 4 and 5 are in contact with one another via theirperipheral edge. When the case is open, the angle of opening of thesetwo storage parts 4, 5 is limited by the presence of two lateralflexible tabs 8, visible in FIG. 3; these two flexible tabs 8 may beadjustable lengthwise and they may be fixed to the storage parts 4 and 5in a removable manner, for example by way of press-button systems.

The external casing of the two storage parts 4 and 5 may be made of aflexible material, of the woven, plastic or leather kind for example,associated with a thickness of foam or other material making it possibleto absorb shocks.

In a derived embodiment, this casing may take the form of rigid shellssecured by a hinge system, and furnished with one or more closure clipson the side opposite from said hinge.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, it is noted that the case is equipped with a grippinghandle 10 fashioned on the front part, that is to say on the sideopposite from the hinge 6. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, thehandle 10 is fixed on the storage part 5 which has a slightly greaterthickness than that of the storage part 4.

The inner face of the storage part 4 is fashioned so as to accommodatethe console 2 in the form of a DVD player.

This storage part 4 incorporates for this purpose a housing 12 whichoccupies a large part of the available volume, and which is delimited bya ring of lateral walls 13 and by a top face 14.

The lateral walls 13 are made of a flexible material, for example wovenor synthetic; they may be secured with the casing of the storage part 4by means of stitches or by gluing. Certain at least of these lateralwalls 13 are preferably disposed slightly set back with respect to thesides of the casing of the storage part 4 so as to effectively protectthe electronic console 2.

The top face 14 is secured to the upper edge of the lateral walls 13. Onthe front part and the lateral sides, this securing is achieved by wayof a glide closure 15 so as to allow the incorporation of the DVD player2 into the housing 12, and its removal.

This top face 14 is also made of a flexible material of woven orsynthetic kind; preferably it comprises a transparent part (plasticmaterial or net-like structure), or it is made wholly of a transparentmaterial, so as to allow the actuation of the functional tactile buttonsof the console 2 when said console is placed in its housing 12.

As seen previously, a bigger or smaller space is preserved between thesides of the storage part 4 and the ring of walls 13; this space definesespecially a particular compartment 16 in the bottom of the case, hinge6 side, whose function will be explained later.

The internal face of the storage part 5 is fashioned so as toaccommodate the DVD screen 3, in particular in such a way that the frontface of this screen is visible when the case is in the open position(FIG. 3).

For this, and in the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the storage part5 comprises a receptacle 17 in the form of a box, which is suitable forensuring effective holding of the screen 3 by removable insetting. Thedimensions of the receptacle 17 are suited to those of the screen 3; andthis receptacle 17, as well as the screen 3 comprise complementarylatching members 18, 19 allowing the removable locking of said screen 3once it is inset into said receptacle 17.

The latching members 18, 19 are fashioned on the sides of each element;the removal of the screen 3 from the receptacle 17 can be performed bydeactivating these latching members, for example by means of very thincards inserted between the two elements.

The inset receptacle 17 is advantageously fixed in the storage part 5 ona block of protective material 23 (for example a block of foam), thisbeing done by way of a hood 24, in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 4 and5.

As may be seen in these two figures, the receptacle 17 is fixed on therim of an opening fashioned in the hood 24 by way of a clamping collaror band 25. It is also conceivable to effect this fixing by simplegluing.

The receptacle 17 thus equipped will be housed in a reservation 26 ofsuitable parallelepipedal general shape, fashioned in the block of foam23, and the hood 24 is fixed on the sides and/or on the top face of thisblock of foam, for example by gluing, so as to obtain an estheticfinish. The material of the hood 24 (leather, woven, synthetic or thelike) is chosen in particular as a function of the desired visualfinish.

The foam block 23 equipped with the inset receptacle 17 and with thehood 24 is fixed by any appropriate means to the interior of the casingof the storage part 5, in particular by gluing.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, in a variant embodiment, the top face of thefoam block 23 can accommodate a finishing trim 27, fixed for example bygluing; and the box 17 for accommodating the screen 3 may be simplyfixed by gluing or incorporated by force-fitting into the reservation 26of the foam block 23.

The electrical connections allowing the operation of the video assembly(player +DVD screen) incorporated into the case 1 are detailed in FIG.7.

In this figure, one notes the presence of a supply connection socket 28fixed on the external casing of the case, and in particular for theembodiment illustrated, fixed on the storage part 4, opposite thecompartment 16. This supply connection socket 28, also visible in FIG.1, allows the installation to be plugged into the mains or into thecigar lighter socket of a motor vehicle, by means of a connection cable29 furnished with a suitable removable jack 30.

The incorporated wires 31 and 32 which provide for the supplyrespectively to the DVD player 2 and to the DVD screen 3 run from theconnection socket 28. These two wires 31 and 32 are furnished at theirfree end with a removable connection jack whose type is suited to theapparatus connected.

Moreover, the player 2 and the screen 3 are linked by various wires 33intended to ensure the audio/video link (in particular a video wire andtwo right/left audio wires), furnished at each of their ends withremovable jacks of suitable type.

According to a beneficial embodiment, the four wires for connection tothe screen 3 may be brought together to terminate at one and the samejack (of RCA or DC or similar type) intended to be plugged into anappropriate connection facility of said screen.

The various wires 31, 32 and 33 pass through the bottom compartment 16;they then run through appropriate openings or orifices fashioned in thering of walls 13, in the casing 24, in the block of foam 23 and in thebox 17, and arrive at the corresponding kit. In FIG. 3 in particular,one notes the orifice 34 provided in the receptacle 17 and the channel35 fashioned in the foam block 23 to ensure the supply to the DVD screen3.

In the compartment 16 the various wires may be masked by a removableflap, for example held by a system of self-adhesive strips.

The case in accordance with the present invention advantageouslyincorporates a plurality of accessories allowing or facilitating theimplementation of the video installation, namely:

-   -   a 12-volt supply cable with cigar lighter socket,    -   a supply cable with mains socket, furnished with a transformer        (12 volts/220 volts),    -   headphones, and    -   a headrest cover 36 together with a screen box 37, such as is        illustrated in FIG. 8.

This headrest cover 36, equipped with a screen receptacle 37 similar tothe receptacle 17 described previously, allows the DVD screen 3 to beaccommodated and positioned on the rear face of a headrest, with a viewto the viewing of a DVD disc from the rear seats of a vehicle, after thenecessary plugging in of the supplies.

These various accessories are stored in the available spaces of thecase, namely around the housing 12, between the two storage parts 4 and5, or else in one or more complementary pouches fashioned in theexternal casing.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a complementary pouch 38 in the form ofa bellows-type pouch may be fashioned over the whole external surface ofone of the storage parts 4, 5. This pouch 38 may be deployed by way of aglide closure 39, and it comprises its own opening/closing system, againof the glide closure kind 40.

Represented dashed in FIG. 1 are two snap-clasps 41, fixed to the handle10 of the case; these snap-clasps 41 allow in particular the fasteningof the case onto the anchoring rods of a seat headrest of a motorvehicle, or the like.

Represented in FIGS. 9 and 10 is another possible embodiment of the casein accordance with the present invention.

In this embodiment, the case comprises all of the equipment and hookupsof the embodiment described previously, and in addition its externalcasing is equipped with a complementary supply connection socket 28′,and also with audio/video connection sockets 42, to allow supply fromoutside either of the video screen 3 removed from the receptacle 17, orof a second separate and independent screen 3′.

As may be seen in FIG. 10, the two supply connection sockets 28 and 28′are linked together electrically (and the supply wires 31 and 32 runinternally from one or other of these connection sockets); moreover,each audio/video connection socket 42 is linked electrically in anappropriate manner with one of the incorporated audio/video wires 33.

An appropriate wiring system 43, consisting of a supply wire and ofaudio/video connection wires, is provided to ensure the external supplyof the video screen 3 or 3′.

The two embodiments described of cases allow optimized accommodation ofan electronic console and of the associated screen. The videoinstallation obtained is very simple and very practical to implement,anywhere that has an appropriate electrical power supply. This case isespecially adapted for the accommodation of a DVD player with itsscreen, but in the same manner, it may be equipped with any other typeof video assembly, for example a games console with screen.

1. A case for accommodating a video assembly comprising an electronicconsole (2), of the video player or games console kind, and the anassociated independent screen (3), wherein the case comprises twostorage parts (4, 5) secured together by way of a hinge system (6) andfurnished with a closure (7), one of said storage parts (5) beingsuitable for accommodating said screen (3) in a removable manner, withits front face visible when the case is in the open position and theother of said storage parts (4) being suitable for accommodating saidassociated electronic console (2) in a removable manner, said casefurther comprising at least one supply connection socket (28), fashionedon one of said storage parts (4, 5), from which there runs internalsupply wiring (31, 32) terminating at two removable jacks for connectionto said screen (3) and to said console (2), and an internal wiringsystem (33) furnished with removable jacks for the audio/video linkbetween said console (2) and said screen (3).
 2. The case as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the storage part (4) for the electronic console (2)comprises an accommodating housing (12) furnished with a top face (14)which is at lest partially removable so as to make the use of saidconsole (2) possible once it has been incorporated into its housing(12).
 3. The case as claimed in claim 2, wherein the top face (14) ofthe housing (12) for accommodating the electronic console (2) is made ofa flexible material and comprises at least one transparent part so as torender the functional members of said console (2) accessible andactuatable.
 4. The case as claimed in claims 1, wherein the casecomprises a compartment (16) for the supply wiring (31, 32) andconsole/screen link (33) systems, said compartment (16) being fashionedin the part (4) for storing the electronic console (2), on the hingesystem (6) side, behind the housing (12) of said console (2) and whichcompartment (16) is furnished with openings or orifices allowing thepassage of said wiring systems (31, 32, 33).
 5. The case as claimed inclaims 1, wherein the storage part (5) for the screen (3) comprises aninset receptacle (17) for said screen (3), furnished with removablelocking members (18).
 6. The case as claimed in claim 5, wherein thereceptacle (17) for removable insetting of the screen (3) is fixed to ablock of protective material (23), which block of material (23) isitself fixed to the casing of the corresponding storage part (5).
 7. Thecase as claimed in claims 1, wherein it comprises members (8) forlimiting the angle of opening of the two storage parts (4, 5).
 8. Thecase as claimed in claims 1, wherein it comprises a complementary supplyconnection socket (28′), as well as audio/video connection sockets (42),which sockets (28′ and 42) are linked to the internal wiring systems(31, 32, 33), for the external supply of a screen (3, 3′).
 9. A videoinstallation comprised of a case (1) as claimed in claims 1, in one ofthe storage parts (5) of which is positioned the screen (3) and in theother storage part (4) of which is inserted the electronic console (2),said case (1) also incorporating at least one supply cable (29, 30) forthe linking of the supply connection socket (28) in particular to themains or to the cigar lighter socket of a motor vehicle.
 10. The videoinstallation as claimed in claim 9, wherein it comprises a case (1)comprising a removable inset receptacle (17) for the screen (3), whichreceptacle (17) is furnished with removable locking members (18)cooperating with complementary locking members (19) fashioned on saidscreen (3).
 11. The video installation as claimed in claim 9, wherein itcomprises a case as claimed in claim 8 and a wiring system (43)appropriate for the external supply of a screen (3, 3′).